I was asked if I thought Jay-Z would have been well within his rights to have hit Solange back after she attacked him in the elevator.

Absolutely, emphatically NOT.

Here is why:

As a black male and recovering misogynist, I feel it is never, ever my place or my right to insinuate, say, do, or believe that male violence against women (or any kind of violence against women) is “justified.”

Given the cultural and often physical power men have over women, and the societies that are structured in ways meant to codify and wield those powers with untold historical and contemporary impunity, I find it impossible to equate when women use violence against men with misogyny.

This isn’t to say that men can’t be victims of violence or that violence against men isn’t a problem, but it is to say that trying to equate female violence against men with male violence against women is, to me, severely lacking in critical, historical, and sociopolitical context. It assumes a level playing field where none exists.

It also ignores that the overwhelming majority of violence against men is perpetrated by other men.

So, no. I don’t think Jay-Z should have hit Solange back and I am so very glad that he didn’t.